if not useful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if not useful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something may not be beneficial or helpful in a given context. Example: "Feel free to ask questions, if not useful, I can provide additional resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

If not useful, then pretty, at least.

The Guardian - Arts

And he conceded that James's will to believe was nothing if not useful: "Very likely he got more out of his faith than I out of my doubt.

The New Yorker

(5) Even if not useful for computations, one can still interpret the exact sequence as an exact sequence for the fundamental groups of a tower of covering spaces, using the standard construction for equivariant cohomology that we shall discuss later.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If not used properly, you can easily combust the material, which isn't useful if you bought it specifically to stay away from smoking.

Vice

Even if it is not useful to us, we can suggest this medicine to our friends".

Plosone

That is a dangerous statement -- sending us down a slippery slope where lives can be measured for their supposed value and discarded if deemed not useful enough.

The New York Times

This is not useful if you have used your tele-orb.

WikiHow

"If it is not useful, it will go away.

The New York Times - Tech

And if you're not useful or central, remove yourself from that person's life.

The Guardian - Opinion

If it is not useful, and as new science emerges, it will undoubtedly evolve.

The New York Times

Consumers may not be willing to pay higher prices for that additional longevity if it's not useful to them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if not useful", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject could be useful for. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity. Example: "The tool, if not useful for data analysis, can still be used for visualization."

Common error

Avoid using "if not useful" in overly complex sentence structures where it can make the sentence difficult to follow. Simplify the sentence or rephrase the conditional clause for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if not useful" functions as a conditional clause, introducing a situation where something lacks utility. It typically modifies a main clause, indicating what might happen or be true in the absence of usefulness. Ludwig shows the phrase is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if not useful" is a grammatically sound and commonly used conditional phrase that introduces a scenario where something lacks utility. Ludwig confirms its acceptability and provides various examples from news, science, and general writing. While versatile, it's best used in contexts where the lack of utility needs to be explicitly addressed as a condition. Alternatives such as "if it lacks utility" or "should it prove unhelpful" can be used for a more formal tone. When using "if not useful", ensure clear context, avoiding overuse in complex sentences. This ensures your writing remains clear and effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if it lacks utility

Replaces "useful" with its synonym "utility" and uses a more formal tone.

should it prove unhelpful

Emphasizes the potential for something to be not helpful, using a more formal conditional structure.

in the event it's ineffective

Focuses on the ineffectiveness of something as an alternative to its lack of usefulness.

assuming it provides no benefit

Highlights the absence of a positive outcome or advantage.

provided it is not advantageous

Uses a more formal term, "advantageous", to convey the lack of usefulness.

supposing it serves no purpose

Emphasizes the absence of a reason or function for something.

if it doesn't contribute value

Focuses on the absence of added worth or significance.

even if it's unavailing

Highlights the lack of success or positive result.

notwithstanding its futility

Emphasizes the pointlessness or lack of effect.

assuming it's devoid of merit

Highlights the lack of positive qualities or worth.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "if not useful" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "should it prove unhelpful" or "in the event it's ineffective". These options offer a more elevated level of diction compared to "if not useful".

What's a simple alternative to "if not useful"?

A simpler alternative could be "if it's unhelpful" or "if it doesn't help". These options are more direct and easier to understand.

How does "if not useful" compare to "even if useless"?

"If not useful" suggests a lack of benefit or practicality, while "even if useless" implies a complete absence of value. The former is a milder condition than the latter. You could replace it with "even if useless".

Is it grammatically correct to say "if not useful"?

Yes, "if not useful" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. According to Ludwig, this phrase is acceptable in a wide range of writing contexts.